Flying-machine.



J. L. WALKER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 22, 191s.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@bmi/nemo Y A J. L. WALKER.

FLYING MACHINE. l APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1913.

' Patented Sept-22, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` 2 me/wko@ dame@ L. Walker'.

QXL/kwamen J. L. WALKER. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED `TULY 22,1913.

Patented Sept. 22, X914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vwewffoz divines L. Wal/f.

@xvi/kwamen J'. L. WALKER.. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYzz, 191s.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

El How/w13 JAMES L. WALKER, GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

FLYING-Meerman.

Specication of Letters Yatcnt.

Patented Sept. @2, 31911.51.

Application filed, July 22, 1913. Serial' No. 780,491.

To all 'wlw/mI 'it may con-cern Be it known thatl, yJAMES L. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gra-nd Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to flyintgI machines ofthe aeroplane class, and one of its principal objects is to provide a machine which possesses both inherent and automatic stability, and which, under all ordinary conditions, When its balance is disturbed, vvill of its own volition adjust itself for the action of the air to return it to balanced position. l

A further object of the invention is to 'provide a flying machine which embodies means operative under abnormal conditions to prevent tilting of the machine under excess pressures froni above, as Well as loss of the fore-and-aft stability when thelniachine strikes an air hole and plunges downwardly and forwardly. thus preventing` it from turning turtle in the air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flying machine havinx,Y a main supporting surface of comparatively small area, and a rudd-erless tail portion having' a supporting area greater than that heretofore employed, said tail portion cooperating with the main surface to give the desired liftingr naction, and also serving, by being made devoid ofv rudders or vaned surfaces, to skid to a degree when the machine tilts laterally to bank the machine .properly for a turning` motion or vto 'restore it to a normally balanced-position. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide `a flying machine having a low center of gravity, a novel arrangement of the drive propeller to gain greater power and speed, and a novel construction and arrangement of steering` head Which is both automatic and `manually operative.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in WhichvFigure 1 is a front elevation of a flying machine embodyingn my invention.- *`Fi, 2 is a side elevation of the same. F ig. Fl is a top plan viciv cf the machine. Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is u bottom plan view of the main plane. Fig. is a diagrammatic-ally perspective vievv orf the steeringhead and controlling devices associated therewith. Fig. 9 is a'detail foreand-aft section throughone of the Wings of the main plane.

Rcferrinp4 to the drawings, l designates the main frame of the machine. having head and tail frame extensions 2 and 3 and carryina' a bout-shaped car 4 which is preferably of tapered or streamline form, suitable cushioned launching and landing; Wheels 5 being' provided when desired. The sides of the main frame are preferably provided with coverings 6 of fabric or other suitable matcrial. lo rive increased lateral stability and inclose the parts of the frame-Work to diminish head resistance, the machine beine' othervvise wholly devoid of vertical surfaces of any' extent on which the air may have acting influence. Ther main frame carries a supporting plane or surface T, which is curved sely. or in a fore-and-aft direction, to present a desired lifting angle of inci dence when the machine is in flight. This plane or supporting surface is preferably formed. as usual, of longitudinal spars or Stringer-s S, ribs 9, and a suitable fabric covcrine' l0. The plane which has approximately the normal lifting capacity of a conventional plane for a machine of the same or any given size and Weight, is doublesurfaced and imperforate in rear of the cambcr point and provided with openings or air `gaps Ja in advance of the camber point. Belic-.1th the front portion of each Wing of the plane is a stabilizing flap or auxiliary plane Il, cocxtensivc in length and Width with apertured portion of said Wing and hinged or pivoted at. its forward edge, as at 12, to the leading` edge of the Wing, so as to tilt or sivinnj vertically on a horizontal transverse axis. The flap ll is constructed preferably in a similar' manner to the main plane and is provided atits rear edge with a stiffening or reinforcing strand 13. To this strand are attached the forward, ends of cords or wir-es 14 which are connected at their rear ends by coiled contractile springs l5 to the v angle of incidence as the forward portion of the plane, the flap normally or under such conditions, forming a part of said supporting plane. The springs 15 are, accordingly, normally held expanded or under tension, their tendency tov contract and swing the tlap downward being overcome by the air pressure resistance from below. When, however, the front part of the plane 7 is struck by sudden or excess bodies of air tending to force the head of the machine downward and to destroy longitudinal stability, the flap 11 is depressed or opened, allowing the greater portion of the excess pressure lto pass off while the flap takes an increased angle of incidence and prevents tilting of the machine. As soon as such eX- cess pressure from above is removed the ap returns to normal position. If the machine ysuddenly dives downwardly and forwardly as when striking an air hole the pressure from below upon the flap is relieved and the springs draw the flap downwardlyr to anv or turning over in the air, allowingthe aviator to regain control.

The tail framey extension 3 carries a tapering tail plane 16, set at a sustaining angle of incidence, and having' an area equal to about one-half the area of the main plane and designed to support approximately as much in proportion to its area as the plane 7, or about 11; of the total weight of the machine in flight, thus compensating for the sustaining deficiency of the plane 7, and coacting therewith to provide* an adequate sustaining surface. For instance, in a machine weighing 1000 lbs., and having a plane 7 of 200 sq. ft., and a lifting cap city of 800^lbs., the tail may have an area ov 100 sq. ft., and a lifting capacity of 20( lbs. By thus proportioning and distributin the sustaining ratios of the main plane and tail, Igreater longitudinal stability and a h gher degree of assiette or aerial floating eficiency of the supporting surface are secured. By this construction the machine is also rendered auto-balancing laterally. For example, as it ltips to 'the right the tail, having weight but no rudder or other vertical surface, will'skid to the right, thereby turning the machine to the left and causing an upward pressure on the right wing, by which the balance is restored. Similarly, as the machine tips to the left, the tail will skid in such direction.y causing an additional lifting pressure onfthe left wing, whereby the balance is restored.

The motor 17 is arranged upon the car or low down upon the main frame in line with the center of gravity and pressure, while the direction of flight.

driving propeller 18 is arranged above the trail portion ofthe tail frame, ata point where it acts upon undisturbed air, whereby its driving efficiency is increased. The thrust of the propeller is transmittedon a line parallel with the line of flight through.

the mounting of the propeller upon a longitudinally extending shaft 19 suitably driven from the motor, and which extends in a plane coincident with a line intersectin the axes of the machine, allowing all'o the compulsive force lof the propeller tos-loe utilized with a reduction of slippage. Furthermore, positioned that the currents of air therethe propeller is thus so@ VISO* from are dissipated at a pointI Where their" action upon surfaces tending to destroy fthenormal balance of the machine is overcome.l

The head frame extension 2 carries a steering head, which operates to normally prevent skidding, and to automatically maintain lateral and longitudinal stability,

and which is manually adju-stable for stabilizing and steering actions. This steering head comprises a compound X-shaped rudder consisting of two crossing planes 20 and 21 arranged at right langles to each other and in opposite oblique lines to the This compound rudder is mounted to tilt vertically and lateral-ly vet upon a universal or gimbaljoint 22. Mount- I ed on'the head frame'extensions between said rudder and the supporting surface v1s a ho-rizontal transverse shaft 23, extending` to equal degrees on opposite sides of the' longitudinal axis of the machine and carryf lll inner small stabilizing planes 24 and 25.,`

Fixed to said shaft 23 to rock therewith in a. fore-and-aft direction is a staff 26. Journaled on the upper armv of said staff are pulleys 27, and l28, and journaled on the lower arm of said staff are pulleys 29 and 30, while upon an intermediate portion of the staff are `iournaled pulleysp31, 32, 33 and 34.

AArranged upon the machine in proximity to the aviators seat 35 is a controlling device comprising an Xshaped compound lever, formed of the pair of levers 36 and 37 having the same angular arrangement as the rudder planes 20 and 21, said controlling device being universally movable uponk a gimbal joint The upper arm of each lever 3G and 37 is provided with a handle or hand-grip 39, while the lower arm of nunca? a the pulley 31 and upwardly and forwardly over the pulley 27 to the upper left hand corner of the rudder plane :20. A third cord or cable 43 leads from the lower right hand arm of the lever 37-over the pulley 33 and downwardly and forwardly over the pulley 30 and is adapted to the rear right hand corner of the rudder plane 2O while a fourth cord or cable 44 leads from the lower left hand arm of the lever 36 to and downwardly over the pulley 32 and thenceover the pulley 29 to the lower rear left hand corner of the rudder plane 2l. It will thus' be understood that when the compound controlling lever is rocked in a fore-andaft direction on the joint 38, motion may be transmitted to the compound rudder to tilt the same upwardly and downwardly to steer the machine in a vertical plane, while by giving a lateral turning motion to the controlling, device similar to that in adjustin j the steering handle of a bicycle or like ve icle, the compound rudder may be adjusted laterally in either direction to steer the machine to the right or left. i Any of these movements may also be obtained and employed to steer and balance the machine at the same time, as will be readily understood.

Vhen the machine is in flight and a disturbing pressure comes from below and tilts the planes 24 and 25. upwardly, motion is communicated to the compound rudder to adjust thesame to a compensating degree, to prevent upward tilting motion of the areoolane, 4while when excess pressure cornes rom above and tilts -the planes 24 and 25 downwardly, the compound rudder is adjusted in the opposite direction to prevent the aeroplane from tilting downwardly and forwardly, whereby the longitudinal stability of the machine is automatically pre-y served during all ordinary conditions of flight. l

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved flying machine will be readily understood, and 1t will be seen that a machine is provided which eifectually attains the objects sought and which simulates toa high degree the balancing actions of a blrd in flight, with resultant advantages in relieving the aviator of anxiety and strain in controlling the machine.

Havmg thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A flying machine comprising a body, head and tail frames projecting therefrom, steering and balancing mechanism mounted solely upon the head frame, the tail frame being devoid of vertical surfaces, a supporting surface carried by the main frame and of insuliicient area and lifting capacity to sustain the machine in flight, a horizontal main frame, the head frame being arrangedv above the horizontal level of the tail frame and the latter being wholly devoid of vertical surfaces, steering and balancing mecha-` nism mounted wholly upon the head frame, a main supporting plane, mounted upon the main frame, said supporting plane being of an area and lifting capacity insuflicient to sustain the machine in flight, a horizontal tail plane mounted on the tail frame and of less area and liftin capacity than the main plane, but of su cient area and lifting capacity for cooperation with the main plane to sustain the machine in flight, a motor mounted upon the main frame below the supporting surfaces, a propeller mounted above the tail plane, and a shaft carrying said propeller'y and inclining downwardly and forwardly therefrom, sa id shaft being driven from said motor.

3. A flying machine comprising a main frame, Vincluding a pendant body shaped car, head and tail frames projecting from the main frame, the head frame being arranged at a. higher horizontal level than the tail frame, steering and 4balancing mechanism mounted solely upon the head frame, the tail frame being devoid of vertical surfaces, a main supporting plane mounted upon the main frame above thecar, said plane. being of an area and lifting capacity insufficient to sustain the weight of the machine in flight, a horizontal tail plane mounted upon the tail frame, said tail frame being of less area and lifting capacity than the main plane but of suicient area and lifting capacity for coperation with the main plane to sustain the weight of the machine in flight, a motor within the car below the main supporting surface, a propeller mounted above the tail plane, and a shaft carrying said propeller and operated from the motor, said shaft extending at a downward and forward angle of inclination from the propeller to the motor.

4. A flying machine comprising a main frame including a. body shaped car, head and tail frames projecting from the main frame, the head being arranged at a higher horizontal level than the tail frame, and the latter being wholly devoid of vertical surfaces, a main supporting plane carried by the main frame above the car. said main frame being of insufficient area and lifting capacity to sustain the weight of the machine in flight, vertical surfaces between said plane and the sides of the c ar, a horizontal tail plane mounted upon the tail frame and of less area and lifting capacity than the main plane but of suficient area and lifting capacity for coperation with the main plane to sustain the machine in flight, a motor mounted within the car below the main plane, av propeller upon the tail frame above the tail plane, and a shaft carrying said propeller and driven from the motor said shaft extending on a downwardly and forwardly' inclined plane from the propeller` to the moto.-

5. A iiyiig machine including a main plane, a 4flap pivoted beneath the forward portion of said plane to ,fold againstthe same under air pressure, and resilient flexible connectionsbetween the Hap and rear portionl of the main plane tending to move said flap downwardly and operating to adjust it downwardly to an increased angle of incidence when the air pressure on said flap isreduced to a determined extent.

6. A flying machine including a curved main plane, double-surfaced in rearv of its camber point and perforate 'in' advance of such point, a iap pivotally `mounted beneath the perforate portion of the main piane and adapted to fold upwardly against the same under air pressure, and resilient connections between said flap and the rear portion of the main plane tending to draw said flap downwardly, and acting to move the iap to an Lincreased angle of incidence when' the air pressure thereon is decreased to a determined extent.

7. A iying machine including a gliding structure, a universally movable steering head comprising a pair of planes crossed X fashion obliquely to the line of flight, a

controlling device comprising a universally mounted X-shaped lever, and connections between `the arms of said controlling device and the Wings of the steering planes for adjusting said steering head vertically and laterally.

8. A ying machine including a gliding structure, a steering head universally ,mounted thereon and comprising a pair of lplanes crossed in X formation obliquely to the line of flight, a horizontal transverse rock shaft, a vertical staff carried by said shaft, pressure planes mounted upon the shaft on opposite sides of the 'longitudinal center of the machine, a controlling device comprising a universally mounted X-shaped lever, and exible connections between the arms of said lever and the wings of the planes of the steering head, said connections having a running and guided engagement with the said stai'.

9. A flying machine having a' supporting surface comprising a plane perforate in ad- Vance of its camber point, a flap normally arranged to close said perforate portion of 'the plane, said flap being movable downwardly under excess air pressure to uncover said perforate portion and form a vent, and

'means for yieldingly opposing a resistance to the downward movement of the flap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. WALKERV Witnesses E. A. KEARNEY, J. L. CLEARY. 

